Feeding mechanism and valve used therein



1 Jam? 1967 J. v. CLANCY ETAL 3,301,443

FEEDING MECHANISM AND VALVE USED THEREI'N I Filed Feb. 1, 1965 *4 6% 1 INVENTORS J/m l7 (Zn/v0 J/l/V F ZZAKMS .54 W Vi ATTORNEYS J6 BY 5 3% W 34 MM,

United States Patent This invention relates to the handling of viscous material and more particularly to a device for feeding viscous material under pressure embodying an improved feed valve operable to open and permit flow of viscous material in response to the application of pressure thereto and to automatically close to prevent flow of such material in response to the relief of the feeding pressure thereon.

The present invention has particular applicability to the handling of viscous materials of the type described in the commonly assigned co-pending application Serial No. 332,229 filed December 20, 1963, specifically the pitch-epoxy formulation disclosed therein or the epoxy resin material disclosed therein. These materials, as set forth in the aforesaid co-pending application, are utilized to coat the interior peripheral surface of a section of concrete pipe by means of the equipment illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification therein. The above mentioned disclosure of commonly assigned co-pending application Serial No. 332,229 is hereby incorporated by reference into this disclosure. Briefly stated, the equipment of the co-pending application includes a spinning head which is movable longitudinally through the pipe section to be coated and which, during this movement, is operable to deposit a layer'of'viscous material, through a spinning or centrifugal action, onto the interior peripheray of the pipe section. The equipment also includes a feeding mechanism for supplying the viscous material to the spinning head under pressure.

This feeding mechanism embodied a cylindrical cartridge containing a charge of viscous material connected with the spinning head through suitable conduit and a piston and cylinder unit driving a plunger into the cartridge to apply a feeding pressure and eifect the actual movement of the viscous material from the supply cartridge through the conduit into the spinning head.

This feed mechanism presented two main disadvantages. First, it did not provide for the positive close-off of the viscous material through the conduit in response to the relief of the feeding pressure in the cartridge, and second, it did not provide a simple means for recharging the cartridge with a supply of viscous material.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a feeding mechanism of the type described having an to the material and operable to prevent such flow in response to the relief of such feed pressure.

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Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a cut-off valve of the type described which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and effective in operation.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent during the course of the following detailed description and appended claims.

The invention may best be understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein an illustrative embodiment in shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a feeding mechanism embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 2, showing the valve in its closed position; and

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 showing the valve in its open position.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 1, there is shown therein a feeding mechanism, generally indicated at 10, which is particularlysuited for use in the centrifugal spraying equipment disclosed in the aforesaid commonly assigned co-pending application in lieu of the feeding mechanism disclosed. therein. The feeding mechanism 10 of the present invention includes a cylindrical container 12 having a lower end Wall 14. The central portion of the lower end wall 14 is apertured and connected with the upper end of a conduit section 16, the lower end of which is connected with a feed valve assembly, generally indicated at 18, embodying the principles of the present invention. A second conduit section 20 has its upper end connected with the opposite end of the feed valve assembly 18, the lower end of the conduit section 20 leading to a spinning head (not shown) or other instrumentality.

The upper end of the cylindrical container 12 is open and communicates with the lower end of a supply hopper 22. As shown in FIGURE 1, the lower end of the supply hopper 22 extends below the upper end of the container and a feed opening 24 is formed in the peripheral wall of the container 12 in communication with the lower end of the supply hopper at a position spaced from its upper end.

It can thus be seen that viscous material fed into the supply hopper 22 may enter the cylindrical container 12 through the open top thereof and through the opening 24 in the peripheral wall thereof. In order to apply a feed pressure to the viscous material disposed within the cylindrical container 12, there is provided a plunger or piston member 26 which is movable longitudinally Within the cylindrical container, as by a conventional piston and cylinder unit, generally indicated at 28. The piston and cylinder unit includes a downwardly extending piston rod 30 having its lower end fixed to the plunger 26.

In the operation of the feeding mechanism 10, the cylindrical container 12 is charged with viscous material with the plunger 26 withdrawn upwardly into a position above the opening 24, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 1. The plunger is then moved downwardly until it passes the opening 24 at which time the material within the cylindrical container 12 is mechanically trapped within 3 the container so that further downward movement of the plunger will result in the application of pressure to this material, causing the same to flow outwardly through the conduit section 16, past the feed valve assembly 18, thnough the conduit section and then on to the spinning head. To re-charge the cylindrical container 12 with viscous material, the plunger 26 is again withdrawn upwardly to the dotted line position, permitting viscous material from the supply hopper to flow into the container through the opening 24 until the latter is filled. The plunger is then ready to begin another downward feeding stroke.

The feed valve assembly 18 constitutes an important feature of the present invention and is operable to open and permit flow of viscous mate-rial from the conduit section 16 to the conduit section 20 in response to the application of feed pressure by the plunger 26, and to close and prevent the flow of material from the conduit section 16 to the conduit section 20 in response to the relief of the feed pressure by the plunger 26.

As best shown in FIGURES 24, the feed valve assembly 18 consists essentially of a pair of annular members 32 and 34 having a resilient diaphragm valve means, generally indicated at 36, secured therebetween. The diaphragm valve means 36 is made up of two sections 38 and 40, each of which is formed from a sheet of soft resilient material, preferably of disc shaped configuration, folded diametrically upon itself with a relatively loose fold so as to provide an air pocket 42 and 44 respectively extending along the fold. A preferred example of a material which is used to form the sheets 38 and 40 is pure gum rubber, although other suitable elastomers may be utilized, depending upon the particular viscous material being handled.

It will be noted that the radius of each disc-shaped sheet is substantially equal to the radius of the exterior periphery of the annular members 32 and 34, so that when two of the folded sheets are placed in general alignment with their folded edges, indicated at 46 and 48 respectively, in abutting engagement, the two folded sheets will provide an annular marginal peripheral portion which is adapted to be engaged between the annular members 32 and 34. As shown, the annular members 32 and 34 are of washer-like construction, although it will be understood that standard flange-type couplings may be utilized if desired. With the washer-type construction as shown, the conduit sections 16 and 20 may be suitable welded respectively to the annular members 32 and 34, as indicated in the drawings. However, as indicated above, other types of connections may be utilized here if desired.

Any suitable means is provided for securing the annular members together with the marginal peripheral portions of the diaphragm valve means compressed therebetween. As shown, the annular members 32 and 34 and the marginal peripheral portions of the folded sheets 38 and 40 have formed therein a series of circumferentially spaced aligned openings 50, 52 and 54 respectively. A

corresponding series of bolts 56 are provided through the aligned openings 50, 52 and 54, and nuts 58 are threaded on the bolts to compress the marginal peripheral portions of the folded sheets 38 and 40 between the annular members 32 and 34. It will be noted that the abutting folded edges of the sheets 38 at their end portions form a portion of the marginal peripheral portions of the sheets which are compressed between the annular members through the tightening of the nuts 58 on the bolts 56. Consequently, the ends of the air pockets 42 and 44 are sealingly closed so that air disposed in each pocket is trapped therein.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the air disposed within the pockets 42 and 44 serves to resiliently urge the folded edges 46 and 48 of the sheets 38 and 40 into abutting engagement so that in the normal closed position of the valve assembly, .as shown in FIGURE 3, fiow of material from. the conduit section 16 to the conduit section 20 is prevented. However, when the plunger 26 is moved downwardly to apply a feeding pressure to the viscous material disposed within the lower portion of the cylindrical container 12, this pressure will cause the folded edge portions 46 and 48 of the sheets 38 and 40 to deflect downwardly, as shown in FIGURE 4, permitting the viscous material to flow therebetween. It will be noted that when the valve assembly is disposed in its open position, as shown in FIGURE 4, the air pockets 42 and 44- are somewhat reduced in size, causing the air therein to be compressed. This compression of the air within the air pockets in conjunction with the elastic action of the sheets themselves, provides the diaphragm valve means 36 with sufficient self-biasing action so that when the feeding pressure on the viscous material in the cylindrical container 12 is relieved, as by halting the downward movement of the plunger 26, the diaphragm valve means 36 will instantaneously move from its open position, as shown in FIGURE 4, into its closed position, as shown in FIGURE 3, to thereby prevent further flow of material thereby.

It can be seen that the valve assembly is of very simple construction embodying only four basic component parts in addition to the conventional bolt assemblies utilized. As stated above, the annular members may be conventional flange fittings and the formation of the diaphragm valve means 36 is of equal simplicity. The diaphragm means may be formed of sheet material simply folded over and placed in the manner described above between the annular members and subsequently trimmed for the sake of appearance, or they may be formed from disc blanks, as described above, obtained from flat sheet stock. The resilient action of the air pockets which provides a self-biasing action at the point where it is needed most in conjunction with the inherent resiliency of the material utilized in the sheets provides an effective means for preventing flow in response to the relief of the feed pressure while at the same time automatically permitting flow when such feed presure is applied.

It thus will be seen that the objects of this invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that the foregoing specific embodiment has been shown and described only for the purpose of illustrating the principles of this invention and is subject to extensive change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A feeding mechanism for a viscous material comprising a vertically extending cylindrical container having an open top and a conduit leading from the lower end thereof, a plunger mounted for vertical reciprocating movement within said container between a first position adjacent the open top thereof and a second position adjacent the lower end thereof, said container having a lateral opening therein adjacent said open top disposed below said plunger when the latter is disposed in said first position, a supply hopper having a lower end communicating with said opening, and feed valve means disposed in said conduit operable to open and permit flow of viscous material outwardly of said container and through said conduit in response to the downward forced movement of said plunger and to close and prevent flow of viscous material thereby in response to the relief of the force causing downward movement of said plunger, said feed valve means comprising a pair of sheets of soft resilient material, each of said sheets being folded on itself to form a loosely folded edge portion defining an airpocket extending therealong, and means connected with said conduit for securing said folded sheets in general planar transverse alignment with the folded edge portions therein in abutting engagement, said securing means sealingly engaging said sheets annularly so as to close the ends of said air pockets.

2. A valve comprising a pair of sheets of soft resilient material, each of said sheets being folded on itself to form a loosely folded edge portion defining an air pocket eX- tending therealong, and means for securing said folded sheets in general planar alignment with the folded edge portions thereof in abutting engagement, said securing means sealingly engaging said sheets annularly so as to close the ends of said air pockets.

3. A valve as defined in claim 2 wherein said securing means includes a pair of rigid annular members having a 10 marginal peripheral portion of said folded sheets disposed therebetween, and means for securing said annular members together with said marginal peripheral portion sealingly compressed therebetween.

4. A valve as defined in claim 2 wherein said sheets are made of gum rubber.

References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,620,949 12/1952 Cole 222490 2,792,856 5/1957 Coppage 222-380X ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

HADD S. LANE, Examiner. 

1. A FEEDING MECHANISM FOR A VISCOUS MATERIAL COMPRISING A VERTICALLY EXTENDING CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER HAVING AN OPEN TOP AND A CONDUIT LEADING FROM THE LOWER END THEREOF, A PLUNGER MOUNTED FOR VERTICAL RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT WITH IN SAID CONTAINER BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION ADJACENT THE OPEN TOP THEREOF AND A SECOND POSITION ADJACENT THE LOWER END THEREOF, SAID CONTAINER HAVING A LATERAL OPENING THEREIN ADJACENT SAID OPEN TOP DISPOSED BELOW SAID PLUNGER WHEN THE LATTER IS DISPOSED IN SAID FIRST POSITION, A SUPPLY HOPPER HAVING A LOWER END COMMUNICATING WITH SAID OPENING, AND FEED VALVE MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID CONDUIT OPERABLE TO OPEN AND PERMIT FLOW OF VISCOUS MATERIAL OUTWARDLY OF SAID CONTAINER AND THROUGH SAID CONDUIT IN RESPONSE TO THE DOWNWARD FORCED MOVEMENT OF SAID PLUNGER AND TO CLOSE AND PREVENT FLOW OF VISCOUS MA- 